How To Recognize Enlightenment

[Dover]

At the very outset, this question may be meaningless to the core. Even the poor wandering ascetic in the story from the sutras above, in the actual presence of the Buddha himself, was unable to discern the Buddha's Attainment. However, repeatedly we come across people who ask such questions, and it really doesn't help if we try our best to enshroud this issue in the cloud of ineffability. The experience of Enlightenment may be incommunicable, but the "finger pointing to the moon" may, in some circumstances, make all the difference in the world. Also, Katsuki Sekida (in his book "Zen Training") expressed his unwavering faith that one day, a Zen genius will appear who will be able to elevate the practice to even higher grounds and to tear asunder some widely accepted barriers. This proposal sounds very reasonable to me, although, as of this moment, no such geniuses have made themselves known to us.


With this in mind, let us first dismiss with some of the cliche answers. Like, the perennial one: "if you have to ask for clarification or verification, then you certainly don't have it", or the other answer that is a staple of all spiritual debates: "it is self-validating beyond the trace of a doubt", etc.


The fact of the matter is that the experience of Enlightenment is so overwhelmingly rich and devastatingly fulfilling that it takes a lifetime to digest, incorporate and integrate into one's everyday life. It is a small wonder, then, that volumes have been filled with the afterthoughts.


Let us start with one thought from Bhagavad Gita; in it, Krishna says to Arjuna: "What is day for me is night for all beings, and what is night for me is day for all beings." In my view, this is the best description of the Enlightened mind in everyday terms. It is extremely difficult, though, to understand it thoroughly. People don't like that quote. People frown when you bring it up. It goes against the grain, and it undermines the very fabric, the very root of human existence.


However, human beings who have reached the other shore and returned to the source (that is, to everyday life) all testify that this is true. Still, it is very hard to grasp, and it's even harder to embrace it....cont'd


http://the-wanderling.com/Recognize.html






Nowhere in the Vedic tradition or Upanishads (ancient text) will we find the word enlightenment. The ancient rishis and sages are very careful not to use the word enlightenment, a word that describes a fixed goal. Nowhere do they talk about a final state of being. Enlightenment is not an end destination. It is a part of destiny. It is a happening. There is no enlightenment but enlightening. A continual unfolding or process that is happening.

Don’t confuse my hand pointing to the moon for the actual moon itself. My hand may be a helpful sign in guiding you to the moon but the danger is that you may miss entirely by jumping off the path too soon. You may confuse the hand for the moon itself. You may think that the sign or signal is the destination. There is no destination. And even if you do reach the moon. This is only a marker. A new beginning. The happening is happening. Continue and carry on.

http://vishwasaha.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/the-moon-road-signs-enlightening/

[nebenaube]

1. Religion is the blind leading the blind...

You don't need ancient religions to tell you who you are.

[randr]

2. You can seek and follow a spiritual path without religion interfering

The Buddha himself rejected the dogma and constraints of his religious indoctrination and sought and understanding of the world around him. His revelations and teachings are not considered religious in nature, although some of the sects that developed are religious in practice.

[mia]

3. Thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2rZNsqS-aw&feature=relmfu